Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago

The curriculum is exclusively focused on Talmudic and Rabbinical Studies, with degrees at bachelor's and master's levels accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools. Students engage in rigorous textual analysis of Jewish law (Halacha) and Torah commentary, following a 3,000-year-old oral tradition. There are no secular courses—this is a full-immersion program where days are spent debating Aramaic texts in paired study (chevruta). The school, founded in 1960, is part of the Telshe yeshiva network tracing back to 19th-century Lithuania.

Life revolves around the study hall (beit midrash)—a sacred space where students spend 12+ hours daily dissecting Talmudic passages. The atmosphere is intense and insular, with strict adherence to Orthodox Jewish practice (kosher dietary laws, daily prayer services, Sabbath observance). There are no athletics, Greek life, or typical college social events; instead, students participate in Torah lectures (shiurim) and holiday celebrations. The Chicago location provides access to a vibrant Orthodox community, but most socializing occurs within the yeshiva's tight-knit cohort.

With a 6-year graduation rate of just 8-10% (far below the 59% national average for 4-year colleges), most students leave before completing degrees—a common pattern in yeshivas where prolonged study often trumps credentialing. Those who graduate report median earnings of $80,870 six years post-enrollment (likely as rabbis or Jewish educators), though this data reflects a tiny sample. Many alumni continue at advanced yeshivas or assume leadership roles in Orthodox communities worldwide.

Tuition is $6,182 annually, but 96% of students receive aid—bringing the average net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $2,281/year. Financial packages typically include:

• $8,170 in federal grants
• $8,400 state grants
• $9,296 institutional aid
• $6,970 Pell Grants

Some students may also receive stipends from Jewish philanthropic organizations supporting yeshiva study. The ultra-low net price reflects the school's mission to make Torah study accessible to Orthodox men regardless of means.

Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago is one of America's purest surviving yeshivas—a place where smartphones are likely rarer than 18th-century Talmud commentaries. It defies every norm of U.S. higher ed: no electives, no campus amenities, no diversity of thought (theology is strictly Orthodox). What it offers is unparalleled access to Talmudic mastery under rabbinic scholars, preserving a Lithuanian Jewish tradition nearly obliterated in the Holocaust. For those called to this life, it's not a college—it's a destiny.